Veterinarians have been trained in artificial insemination

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD) has trained veterinarians from different parts of the country on how to inseminate cows and how to help farmers when their cows are exposed to any disease.

The training was carried out in collaboration with one of the IFAD-sponsored projects in Rwanda at the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) / (RDDP).

It is an event that took place on Saturday, May 1, 2021, as Rwanda joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Labor Day at the RAB Songa Center in Kinazi Sector in Huye District.

The trainees said that in their veterinary practice they faced various challenges mainly including lack of equipment and skills to help them improve the profession.

Jean Damascene Hakizimana from Nyabihu District, who is already teaching high school veterinarians, said that usually teaching students how to inseminate cows was less likely than they knew and thus a hindrance to their daily work.

Niyirora Joseph from Nyamashake District said that when a farmer called him to help him inseminate a cow, he replied that he did not have the right to do so, and did not even know that it required him to call the livestock manager in the Sector, which prevented him from properly assisting the farmer.

Trained veterinarians are allowed to inseminate a cow and thus confirm that it is going to help them in their day-to-day operations.

The Executive Secretary of Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD) Dr. Alphonse Anne Marie NSHIMIYIMANA said that: “Insemination is a program that the government has established to increase milk production in the country. Rwandan cows currently give 2-3 liters of milk a day, but when inseminated, the expected increase in milk production is 6-10 liters per day.”

Insemination techniques usually help prevent cows from contracting infectious diseases.

“The number of insemination professionals is still small in the country, leaving some farmers without access to this service. That is why the government is making efforts to increase their numbers across the region.” He added.

In a message to about 63 trained veterinarians, Dr Nshimiyimana called on them to continue their training while also informing them about livestock and keeping in mind the main responsibilities of veterinarians who are prioritized for quality service and are always trusted by their customers as they wait for the equipment to reach them by the end of May.

Dr Nshimiyimana told the trained veterinarians that continuing to provide advice on livestock farming especially in the insemination of their cows will help achieve rapid development.

The Vice chairperson of the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD), Dr. Tumusabe Mary Claire recommended veterinarians who were trained to inseminate cows by putting forward professionalism.

“We urge them to provide better services because if you delay in inseminating cows, you may find that the cows are no longer safe as they lost good and timely services,” she said.

A total of 34 veterinarians were trained over a two-week period and 29 others were trained over the past two weeks to a total of 63 who have embarked on new professional cow insemination activities.